Magnetic Concrete Construction Keyway System

ABSTRACT

A magnetic concrete construction keyway system for strengthening adjacent concrete slabs through the use of a reusable and flexible keyway forming apparatus. The magnetic concrete construction keyway system includes a steel form to create a mold for a concrete slab, a keyway member including a connecting side, wherein the connecting side is removably attachable to an inside of the steel form and wherein the keyway member forms a groove in the concrete slab. The keyway member is magnetically attached to the steel form through the use of a plurality of magnets embedded within the keyway member.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable to this application.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable to this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to concrete strengthening andmore specifically it relates to a magnetic concrete construction keywaysystem for strengthening adjacent concrete slabs through the use of areusable and flexible keyway forming apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should inno way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely knownor forms part of common general knowledge in the field.

Concrete strengthening has been in use for years. Typically, for largeconcrete surfaces there exists the need to pour several smallerconnecting concrete slabs rather than one large concrete slabs. Havingseveral smaller concrete slabs reduces cracks in the concrete andgeneral wear over time. This is also common on sidewalk, where concreteslabs can extend for several miles. It is common practice use some typeof construction joint (i.e. vertical joint, joggle joint, etc.) whenpouring adjacent concrete slabs. To utilize a construction joint sometype of keyway apparatus is generally used.

Some common construction joint apparatuses used when pouring adjacentconcrete slabs are forms with a keyway apparatus built in to the form.This severely limits the usability of the form in that whenever you useit, you will be forming a groove in the edge of your concrete. A lot oftimes, this is not desired. Another type of keyway apparatus used is onethat you would nail or screw to the form. This can be very timeconsuming and overall unpleasant work.

Keyway apparatuses are also generally comprised of a stiff material andare not able to conform to steel forms with curvatures or other abnormalshapes. This brings about the need to buy multiple keyway apparatuseswhen forming irregular shaped concrete slabs. This can be very expensiveand an unnecessary cost.

While these devices may be suitable for the particular purpose to whichthey address, they are not as suitable for strengthening adjacentconcrete slabs through the use of a reusable and flexible keyway formingapparatus. Past keyway apparatuses are generally fixed in the shape thatthey are able to conform to and can also be difficult to attach to theforms.

In these respects, the magnetic concrete construction keyway systemaccording to the present invention substantially departs from theconventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doingprovides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose ofstrengthening adjacent concrete slabs through the use of a reusablekeyway forming apparatus.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types ofconcrete strengthening now present in the prior art, the presentinvention provides a new magnetic concrete construction keyway systemconstruction wherein the same can be utilized for strengthening adjacentconcrete slabs through the use of a reusable and flexible keyway formingapparatus.

The general purpose of the present invention, which will be describedsubsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new magnetic concreteconstruction keyway system that has many of the advantages of theconcrete strengthening mentioned heretofore and many novel features thatresult in a new magnetic concrete construction keyway system which isnot anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any ofthe prior art concrete strengthening, either alone or in any combinationthereof.

To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a steel formto create a mold for a concrete slab, a keyway member including aconnecting side, wherein the connecting side is removably attachable toan inside of the steel form and wherein the keyway member forms a groovein the concrete slab. The keyway member is magnetically attached to thesteel form through the use of a plurality of magnets embedded within thekeyway member.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the invention in order that the detailed description thereofmay be better understood, and in order that the present contribution tothe art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of theinvention that will be described hereinafter and that will form thesubject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of theinvention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited in its application to the details of construction and to thearrangements of the components set forth in the following description orillustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminologyemployed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not beregarded as limiting.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a magneticconcrete construction keyway system that will overcome the shortcomingsof the prior art devices.

A second object is to provide a magnetic concrete construction keywaysystem for strengthening adjacent concrete slabs through the use of areusable keyway forming apparatus.

Another object is to provide a magnetic concrete construction keywaysystem that magnetically attaches to steel forms.

An additional object is to provide a magnetic concrete constructionkeyway system that is able to bend and conform to curved edges.

A further object is to provide a magnetic concrete construction keywaysystem that may be manufactured to adapt to various keyway jointstructures and configurations.

Another object is to provide a magnetic concrete construction keywaysystem that is easily attachable and removable from steel forms.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeobvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects andadvantages are within the scope of the present invention.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this inventionmay be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings,attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings areillustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specificconstruction illustrated and described within the scope of the appendedclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the presentinvention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes betterunderstood when considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which like reference characters designate the same orsimilar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an upper perspective view of the present invention in use andpositioned on both sides of a concrete slab.

FIG. 7 is an upper perspective view of the present invention in use withone form removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A. Overview

Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar referencecharacters denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIGS. 1through 7 illustrate a magnetic concrete construction keyway system 10,which comprises a steel form 14 to create a mold for a concrete slab 12,a keyway member 20 including a connecting side 22, wherein theconnecting side 22 is removably attachable to an inside of the steelform 14 and wherein the keyway member 20 forms a groove 16 in theconcrete slab 12. The keyway member 20 is magnetically attached to thesteel form 14 through the use of a plurality of magnets 30 embeddedwithin the keyway member 20. The steel form 14 may be comprised of asteel flexible form or a rigid steel form that is formed into a desiredshape (e.g. straight, curved, etc.) capable of forming concrete into adesired shape.

B. Keyway Member

A keyway member 20 is preferably comprised of a flexible and resilientmaterial as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. The flexible and resilientmaterial is preferably comprised of a rubber like material. The rubberlike material of the keyway member 20 may be comprised of, but is notlimited to, rtv silicon or polyurethane. This allows the keyway member20 to conform to different curvatures of the steel forms 14 used increating molds for concrete slabs 12. The keyway member 20 is alsopreferably comprised of a material that is able to be removed from aconcrete slab 12 after being in contact with the concrete during thedrying process, as shown in FIG. 7.

The groove 16 that's created after the removal of the keyway member 20preferably is of a substantially similar shape and configuration to thekeyway member 20. The shape of the keyway member 20 is preferably of anelongated trapezoidal structure, as shown in FIG. 5. The groove 16 fromthe trapezoidal structured keyway member 20 is also known as a jogglejoint. It is appreciated that the keyway member 20 may be comprised ofvarious other configurations, depending on the desired keyway structureand strength of the adjacent concrete slabs 12.

The keyway member 20 includes a first forming side 24 and a thirdforming side 26. The first forming side 24 and the third forming side 26are preferably comprised of substantially similar structures asillustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5. The first forming side 24 and the thirdforming side 26 preferably mirror each other. When the keyway member 20is submerged in the concrete the first forming side 24 and the thirdforming side 26 extend into the concrete at a substantiallyperpendicular angle to the steel form 14, as shown in FIG. 5. It isappreciated that the first forming side 24 and the third forming side 26may be of different structures and configurations depending on thedesired shape of the keyway member 20.

The first forming side 24 and the third forming side 26 are connected bya second forming side 25. The second forming side 25 forms the innermost side of the groove 16 in the concrete slab 12, as shown in FIG. 7.The second forming side 25 is preferably of a substantially planarstructure and configuration to provide a consistent groove 16 in whichto adjoin adjacent concrete slabs 12.

The keyway member 20 also includes a first end 28 and a second end 29 asillustrated in FIGS. 2 through 4. The first end 28 and the second end 29are preferably comprised of substantially similar structures andconfigurations. The first end 28 and the second end 29 are alsopreferably comprised of a planar structure and configuration. This is toallow the first end 28 of a first keyway member 20 to match up with thefirst end 28 or the second end 29 of a second keyway member 20 whenmultiple keyway members 20 are assembled in series. The keyway members20 may also be matched up also be matched up second end 29 to second end29 or any other end to end configuration. The first end 28 and thesecond end 29 may also be comprised of multiple different structures andconfigurations, any of which allow the first end 28 to match up withanother first end 28 or second end 29 or vice versa.

The connecting side 22 of the keyway member 20 is preferably of a planarstructure and configuration, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 through 7. Thisis to allow the connecting side 22 to rest flat against the inner sideof the steel form 14. It is desired that no concrete is able to flowin-between the connecting side 22 and the steel form 14 when the keywaymember 20 is attached to the steel form 14. This is to ensure anaccurate and consistent groove 16 in the concrete pouring process.

C. Magnets

The plurality of magnets 30 are preferably comprised of a circularstructure and configuration as shown in FIG. 1. The magnets 30 arepreferably neodymium magnets. The plurality of magnets 30 are alsopreferably equally spaced within the keyway member 20 as illustrated inFIGS. 1 through 4. Further, the plurality of magnets 30 are preferablypositioned completely within the keyway member 20. The plurality ofmagnets 30 are preferably embedded at a distance away from theconnecting side 22 substantially similar to the thickness of the magnet30, as shown in FIG. 5.

Positioning the magnet 30 farther away from the connecting side 22 thanthe thickness of the magnet 30 may provide too weak of a force for thekeyway member 20 to attach to the steel form 14. It is appreciated thatthe magnets 30 may be closer to the connecting side 22 than thepreferred embodiment as this will not hinder the use of the magneticconcrete construction keyway system 10.

D. Operation Invention

In use, the steel forms 14 are first positioned in a manner consistentwith the desired shape of the concrete slab 12. In areas where a secondconcrete slab 12 will be adjacent with the current concrete slab 12, agroove 16 needs to be formed to prevent movement and provide addedstrength between the two concrete slabs 12. The magnetic concreteconstruction keyway system 10 is magnetically attached to the inner sideof the steel form 14 on the side of the mold where a second concreteslab 12 will be poured in the future, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

The magnetic concrete construction keyway system 10 is preferablyvertically centered on the inside of the desired steel form 14 with theconnecting side 22 of the keyway member 20 parallel and touching thesteel form 14. This process is repeated for all sides of the mold wherean adjacent concrete slab 12 will be poured in the future.

Once the initial concrete slab 12 is formed and is allowed to harden.The steel form 14 and the magnetic concrete construction keyway system10 are removed. A groove 16 is now present in the side of the concreteslab 12 where the magnetic concrete construction keyway system 10 waspositioned. The mold for the second concrete slab 12 may now be formedwith the adjacent side of the first concrete slab 12 with the presentgroove 16 acting as one side of the mold. When concrete is poured intothe second mold the concrete enters the groove 16 of the first concreteslab 12 providing a stronger binding area in-between the first concreteslab 12 and the second concrete slab 12. This process is repeated whereany concrete slab 12 will have another concrete slab 12 poured adjacentto it.

What has been described and illustrated herein is a preferred embodimentof the invention along with some of its variations. The terms,descriptions and figures used herein are set forth by way ofillustration only and are not meant as limitations. Those skilled in theart will recognize that many variations are possible within the spiritand scope of the invention, which is intended to be defined by thefollowing claims (and their equivalents) in which all terms are meant intheir broadest reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated. Any headingsutilized within the description are for convenience only and have nolegal or limiting effect.

1. A magnetic concrete construction keyway system, comprising: a steelform to create a mold for a concrete slab; a keyway member including aconnecting side; wherein said keyway member is designed to form a groovein said concrete slab; and at least one magnet attached to said keywaymember, wherein said at least one magnet attaches said connecting sideof said keyway member to said steel form.
 2. The magnetic concreteconstruction keyway system of claim 1, wherein said keyway member iscomprised of a rubber material.
 3. The magnetic concrete constructionkeyway system of claim 1, wherein said keyway member is comprised of aflexible and resilient material.
 4. The magnetic concrete constructionkeyway system of claim 1, wherein said at least one magnet is embeddedin said keyway member at a distance away from said connecting sidesubstantially similar to a thickness of said at least one magnet.
 5. Themagnetic concrete construction keyway system of claim 1, wherein saidconnecting side rests flat against said steel form when said keywaymember is magnetically attached to said steel form.
 6. The magneticconcrete construction keyway system of claim 1, wherein said keywaymember includes a first forming side, a second forming side extendingdownwardly from said first forming side and a third forming sideextending inwardly from said second forming side.
 7. The magneticconcrete construction keyway system of claim 6, wherein said firstforming side and said third forming side are comprised of substantiallysimilar structures and configurations.
 8. The magnetic concreteconstruction keyway system of claim 6, wherein said first forming sideand said third forming side mirror each other.
 9. The magnetic concreteconstruction keyway system of claim 6, wherein said first forming side,said second forming side, said third forming side and said connectingside of said keyway member form a trapezoidal structure andconfiguration.
 10. The magnetic concrete construction keyway system ofclaim 1, wherein said keyway member is comprised of an elongatedstructure.
 11. The magnetic concrete construction keyway system of claim10, wherein said keyway member has a trapezoidal cross sectional shape.12. The magnetic concrete construction keyway system of claim 1, whereinsaid keyway member is comprised of an elongated member having aconsistent structure.
 13. The magnetic concrete construction keywaysystem of claim 11, wherein said first end of one said keyway membermatches up with a second end of a second keyway member.
 14. The magneticconcrete construction keyway system of claim 12, wherein said keywaymember is comprised of a solid and non-hollow structure.
 15. A magneticconcrete construction keyway system, comprising: a steel form to createa mold for a concrete slab; a keyway member including a connecting side,a first forming side, a second forming side and a third forming side,wherein said connecting side is removably attached to an inside of saidsteel form; wherein said connecting side rests flat against said steelform when said keyway member is attached to said steel form; whereinsaid connecting side, said first forming side, said second forming sideand said third forming side form a trapezoidal structure andconfiguration; wherein said keyway member is comprised of a flexible andresilient material; wherein said keyway member forms a groove in saidconcrete slab; a first end; a second end substantially similar instructure and configuration to said first end, wherein said first endand said second end match up with each other when multiple said keyunits are connected in series; and a plurality of magnets embeddedwithin said keyway member, wherein said plurality of magnetsmagnetically attach said connecting side of said keyway member to saidsteel form.
 16. The magnetic concrete construction keyway system ofclaim 15, wherein said keyway member is comprised of a rubber material.17. The magnetic concrete construction keyway system of claim 15,wherein said groove in said concrete slab is substantially similar indepth to said keyway member.
 18. The magnetic concrete constructionkeyway system of claim 15, wherein said first end and said second endare comprised of a planar structure and configuration.
 19. The magneticconcrete construction keyway system of claim 15, wherein said pluralityof magnets are embedded in said keyway member at a distance away fromsaid connecting side substantially similar to a thickness of saidplurality of magnets.
 20. A magnetic concrete construction keywaysystem, comprising: a steel form to create a mold for a concrete slab;and a means for forming a keyway in said concrete slap.